by Ali Parker
"How much-"
"I'm ready." She brushed her shoulder by my chest and walked toward the door. The slinky black dress she had on showed more skin than the fucking bikini, but there would be no taming her. It would simply blow up in my face.
I had to remember that she didn't belong to me. She simply didn't.
"You look amazing." Nathaniel smiled at her as he opened the door and moved back.
"You think so?" She turned around slowly, allowing both of us the opportunity to memorize her delicious curves.
"Keep moving, beautiful. We have a meeting in forty minutes." I moved up behind her and rested my hand on her lower back, making sure to sweep the tips of my fingers over the top curve of her perfect ass. "Get in the car for me."
She laughed and shook her head, causing her long dark locks to dance around. "You think you're in charge, but you're not."
"I think she's right man." Nate shook his head as she walked toward the car. "Damn man... you are one lucky fucker."
"Right. Cause that's how I feel." I slipped my left hand into my pocket and unlocked my Jag with my right.
"You sure you don't wanna drive my car tonight? It's faster." She glanced over the top of my car and gave me a sensual smile.
"No. Mine has more room up front in case you get frisky later." I shrugged and got into the car, ignoring the hunger in her eyes. I'd have a handful of Zandra by the end of the night and she would be mine.
I was a sorry bastard for preplanning it, but I couldn't seem to care too much about it. She wanted me pressed between her thighs, and before the night was out... I would be. Risk free.
*
"Marcus, you remember Izabella Castaletta." I moved back as Marcus extended his hand to Izzy. We'd arrived at the club to find both him and Zak on the third floor, nursing their beers.
"How could I forget?" He leaned down and kissed the tops of knuckles. "I owe you a debt of gratitude for what you did in New Orleans."
"You do." She tilted her head to the side and pressed her teeth to her bottom lip. "How do you supposed we could settle the debt? I'd rather you not take one of my hits and kill someone for me."
"Whatever the lady wants... the lady gets." He kissed her hand again and moved back. "You know my associate, Zak."
"Nice to see you again." Izzy reached out and shook Zak's hand.
I couldn't help myself from putting an arm around the back of her waist. My fingers rested on her side, her dress open and flowing in a way that let me touch skin almost no matter where I was.
"Let's talk business and then pleasure. Sound good?" I nodded toward a quiet booth in the corner of the large upper floor of our club.
"Sounds great." Marcus turned and walked toward the booth and Izabella and I followed him. Zak disappeared off to the bar again.
We took our seats and some part of me wanted to reach out and pull Izzy closer. I knew how the night would end, but I wanted more of her attention. Now. It wasn't fair, but most things in life weren't.
"Like what you see?" She smiled and slid her hand down my thigh under the table. I must've been staring at her a little too long.
"Hell, yeah, I do. Every man in his club with eyes and a pulse is falling over themselves, thanks to you." I gripped her hand and squeezed it softly, holding her in place. I was already hard as a rock and aching from the base of my cock to the center of my chest. It felt like someone had cracked open my insides and poured pleasures unspeakable down the center of me.
She would be mine later that night. Just mine.
"Tell me about the narcotics ring." Marcus brought us from our staring contest.
"Right." I put her hand back in her lap and leaned back, wrapping my arm around the back of her shoulders. "It's a small shop, but we run everything from marijuana to cocaine out of our warehouse. Suppliers are across the country and our manufactures are in New York." I glanced toward Zak as he joined us. "There are a handful of people that work in shipping, but only the two of you will truly work the narcotics ring. I think Joe would like to see it expand to where you had manufacturers and dealers here in Chicago too, but we've just not had the time to focus on the ring without a strong leader working it."
Izzy stiffened, but I knew she would agree. We both cared about her little brother, but from a leadership perspective, the kid was way out of his league.
"And who is Selma?" Marcus took a quick sip of his beer.
"She's one of the shipping agents. My older sister, Catherine runs our shipping business and will be working closely with you. Selma works for Catherine." I picked up my glass and took a quick sip.
"We'll work out all the details in a sit down meeting early next week. Cat will get you up to speed and keep you in line. You'll love her or hate her." I smiled down at Izzy. "Right?"
"She's a hard worker and has been an enormous asset to my family." Izzy surprised me with her words.
"Awesome." Marcus looked around. "Are you guys running a string of night clubs too?"
"Not really." Izzy jumped in. "We have this one, but we're hoping to expand in the next few years. It's not at the top of our wish list, but damn near close, right, D?"
"Yeah. I spoke with a guy named Fredrick Carrington. He's from New York. Seemed like a good guy."
"I know Fredrick. We went to New York to visit him a little while back, to introduce Zandra to Kadia, his nightclub." Marcus glanced toward Zak. "It was fucking crazy, but the guy knows his stuff."
"Yeah, he's actually the younger brother of a good friend of mine from my younger days." I finished my drink and set it back down on the table.
"Who's that? Not Michael, right?" Izzy turned toward me and brushed her knee along my thigh, lighting me up with nothing more worthy of my reaction.
"Yeah. You remember Michael? Me and Drake used to hang out with him all the time. I guess Fredrick is his step brother. Different mothers, so they didn't both live here in Chicago. I made the connection just after he came to visit the club."
"Michael or Fredrick?" Marcus leaned forward. "I'm getting lost. Maybe it's the booze."
I smirked. "No, it's easy to do around here. Fredrick came to visit to help open the third floor we're sitting in right now. His older brother, Michael is a real estate mogul of sorts. He's been living in between New York and Maine from what I heard last. He's hit that stage where he's ready to settle down. Just hasn't found the right woman, I guess."
"It's not easy." Marcus lifted his beer. "To good women. Wherever the fuck they are."
"Here. Here." Zak hit the beer bottle with his.
"There's several in my life, but here's to you guys finding one." I hit my glass against their bottles.
"I'm not interested in a good or bad woman, but good luck to you poor schmucks." Izzy hit her glass against the side of ours. "May she rule your world and fuck you up for anyone after her."
"Said like a true woman." I smiled and moved a little closer to her. "Marcus, tell Izabella about Zandra for me."
"Yeah sure." He set his beer down and pulled out a small bag of pills. "It's a mix between ecstasy and acid. It removes all inhibitions and leaves you wanting to hump anything that moves. It's the latest rage on the streets and in the clubs as you can imagine why."
"Interesting." She took the baggie from him and lifted it up, studying the pills. "Any negative after effects?"
"Other than waking up naked around a hundred other people and realizing you don't know a damn one of them? No." Marcus snorted. "The shit is insanely powerful. If you guys use it, just be careful, hm? Lock the doors behind you so you can't get out." He shook his head. "I'm serious."
Izzy glanced over at me with adventure in her eyes. I would love her forever, simply for never giving up hope that one day we would belong to each other. She kept putting herself out there for me, and I kept slamming the door. One day it would stay shut, but by the look in her eyes, today wasn't that day.
"Remember when we were kids and we tried acid for the first time?" She laughed loudly, the sound of it pure an
d uninhibited. It brought back a whole host of memories.
"How can I forget? I swatted at imaginary elephants for you until my fucking arms almost fell off." I reached out and brushed her hair behind her ear, leaving the rest of my words trapped behind my teeth. Marcus didn't need to know how long we fucked that afternoon and into the night. It was the most amazing day of my life... at least until the next time I was trapped beneath her.
"You guys need someone like Katie to help with the clubs. It's amazing what she's done at Expulsion in New Orleans."
I turned my attention back to Marcus. "Wait. Katie? Kate Jarrett?"
"You know Kate?" Marcus expression hardened a little, and I realized that Katie, or Kate was his woman. Or used to be.
"I don't know her, no. Fredrick mentioned her while he was here. Said she was the one of the best at what she did. He always said she had two men. Wanna explain that?"
"Not tonight, I don't." Marcus shrugged and picked up his beer. "Seeing that I'm sitting here and she's still there, I'll let you put the pieces together."
"What's his name?" Izzy leaned toward Marcus.
"Jon Peterson. He's a cop down in New Orleans. He's alright as far as cops go."
"Our cop is named Jonathan." Izzy glanced back at me and smirked.
"Your cop. He's not mine." I reached out and brushed my hand down the back of her head.
"You need us to kill him off?" She asked seductively, like killing was better than sex could ever be. Fuck, it might have been with her.
Marcus chuckled. "No."
Zak shook his head. "Please?"
I reached over and took the pills from Izabella. "Alright guys. We'll be in touch. Thanks for the sample. I'll try it out and let you know if we're going to move forward with it."
"Alright, boss. Whatever you decide. Enjoy your night." Marcus nodded toward us as I got out of the booth and offered my hand to Izzy.
"We're leaving already?" She gripped my hand tightly as we walked toward the elevator.
"I was hoping maybe you would be willing to try this with me." I dangled the bag in front of her pretty face. "I'm not sure what'll happen, but I'd rather you be there."
"You want me to take this with you?" She laughed and grabbed the bag from me. "And we what? Fuck like rabbits all night long?"
I pulled her close to me as we got into the elevator. "Would you hate me in the morning if I said yes just this once?"
"No," she breathed out and moved toward me, pressing her lips to mind and stealing my heart for the millionth time in our short lives.
Maybe sleeping with her was a mistake. Or maybe it was just the opposite. Maybe by turning her away I'd been missing out on the best parts of life. Either way... I was all in for the night.
We'd pick up the pieces of whatever happened in the morning.
Chapter 21
Izabella
I couldn't believe my ears, so I didn't try. We walked quickly to the front of the club and stood close together as the valet grabbed D's Jag and parked it in front of us.
"Have a great night, Mr. DeMarco. Miss Castaletta."
"You too, Jason." D winked at me from over the hood. "Get in the car, Izzy."
I nodded and got in without giving him too much lip. Shock held me silent for the moment.
"My place or yours?" D put the car in drive and reached out to take my hand in his.
As stupid as it was, the moment was surreal. Was I already high? If fucking felt like it.
"Yours," I whispered and pressed my back against my seat. "I don't think this is a good idea. What's going to happen when we wake up in the morning? You're going to be pissed that you let us do this."
"We'll figure it out then." He brought my hand to his mouth and licked at my fingers softly. "I need you, alright? It's so fucking dark in this world we're not only living in, but creating. I need tonight."
"And what about the night's I've needed you so badly it hurt?" I pulled my hand from him. I couldn't do it. I wanted to, so goddamn bad, but it meant too much to me. He meant too much. I was never about the sex. That was simply an extension of the passion inside of me that bubbled up and spilled over every time he was near.
"I'm a bastard, Izabella. I've never pretended to be anything but the bastard that I am." He glanced over at me and gripped my hand harder, lifting my finger back toward his mouth.
I groaned low in my chest as he sucked two of my fingers in his mouth, running his tongue around each of them slowly as my body began to ache. I wanted that tongue everywhere. No, needed it.
"Don't do this to me." I sucked in a painful breath as I jerked my hand from him and swatted at his arm. "Don't do this to me. You're a fucking bastard if you do this to me."
"Am I?" He pulled over on the side of the road and got out of the car to walk over to my side. He opened the door and leaned down, undoing my seatbelt and pulling me out of the car with him.
"What are you doing? We're in the middle of nowhere. Take me home or I swear to God I'm gonna put a bullet in your head."
"Hush, woman." He leaned over and pressed his shoulder against my stomach, standing back up and carrying me over his shoulder away from the car.
"Demetri. I'm serious. Put me the fuck down."
"Alright. On one condition." His voice was like liquid heat, drowning me in need and lust like nothing else could.
"Fine. What?" I popped his butt and smiled, thought I'd never let him know that I found the moment almost comical.
"Did you wear this tiny little scrap of a dress for me?" He stopped and patted my ass slowly.
"No. I wore it for me."
"Wrong answer." He walked a few more feet as I yelled.
"Fine! I wore it for you. Put me down."
"I knew you did." He set me down and my feet plunged into cold water.
I yelped and ran toward the grass. The beautiful lake that laid out behind him wasn't at all what I expected. I'd not been paying attention, but he knew exactly what he was up to.
"What do you want from me, D? I've been through a little too much lately to put up with your wishy-washy hormones."
"No, baby." He reached for me and damn if I didn't give him my hand. "There's nothing wishy washy about my hormones."
He pressed his mouth to the side of my neck and ran his hands over my hips to cup my ass tightly. "I want you all the time. Don't think for a minute that I don't. I can't let my obsession over you tear down our family, and it will."
I slipped my hands between us and cupped his erection, stroking it softly. I just wanted to feel him one more time. Just once more.
"Then what are you doing?" I moved back a little only to have him grip my arms and hold me in place.
"I don't know. I just keep thinking that maybe one more night isn't going to kill either of us. You're the only woman I want in my bed, Izabella."
I nodded and ran my thumb nails down the length of him before wrapping my arms around myself. "Take me home, okay?"
We stood there in silence for a few minutes before he reached for my hand. "Alright. Forgive me."
"Nothing to forgive." I took his hand and walked back to the car, relieved and devastated. If he wanted me badly enough, he'd push. I would've pushed, but those days were over. I'd spend six years pushing.
"You think you and Eddie could try this out for me?" He tossed the bag of pills into my lap as he buckled up and started the car.
His tone was ugly, his temper having shown up.
I gripped the bag in my hand and turned to watch the world go by. How nice it would have been to be anyone but me. I just wanted a break, some relieve, a moment of not needing him so badly that life seemed dulled by his denial.
We rode the rest of the way home in silence, and I got out of the car and left the pills in the empty passenger's seat. My need to tell him to fuck off was there, bright and burning at my insides, but I couldn't speak without crying, and there was no way in hell I was shedding another tear for him.
I walked to the door and nodded at Charles be
fore walking up to my room. I kicked off my shoes and pulled my dress from my body. My panties slid easily over my hips, leaving me naked for no one to see. I walked to the open window and glanced down as I wrapped the curtain around myself.
D's car sat idle in the driveway.
"What are you waiting for? Come get me. If it's just for tonight. Come fucking get me." My words were nothing more than an agonizing groan as tears spilled over on my cheeks. I needed him to play my part for the night. I needed him to offer me anything.
He got out of the car and glanced up at my bedroom window. "What do you want from me Izzy? I offered you tonight."
"On your fucking terms." I let the curtain drop and walked out on the balcony, not carrying who saw me. "One your terms. Never once since you broke my heart as it been on my terms."
He lifted his hands in the air and groaned loudly. "You know that I love you."
"Love isn't enough, D. Love drives us together and breaks us apart." I brushed the back of my hand by my nose. "Go find someone you can love the way I love you."
"That's not fair." He was almost screaming as he stood below me. My father would be out of his room any minute and all hell would break lose.
"Life isn't fair." I shook my head and turned to walk back inside.
"Anything you need, Izabella. I can give you anything you need from me tonight. Just ask me for it."
"No," I whispered and closed the window. I wasn't asking for a goddamn thing from him again. I couldn't. I'd hate myself more in the morning than I did standing there trying to woo him to my bed with my nakedness.
I walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower before brushing my hair slowly as I studied myself in the mirror.
"Not enough," I whispered as set the brush down. "Or maybe too much? It doesn't matter. Neither works." I turned off the shower, realizing that the last thing I wanted to do was get soapy and wet and touch myself. I'd end up crying out his name as heat blossomed in my stomach, and I couldn't do it again. I wouldn't.
"I hate you, Demetri DeMarco." I walked into the bedroom to find the lights out.
"No you don't," he whispered roughly. "Come here and stop fucking fighting me."
